Marquette Announces 2014 Schedule

MILWAUKEE —The Marquette University men's lacrosse team unveiled its 2014 schedule Wednesday. It marks the program’s second year of varsity competition under head coach Joe Amplo and the Golden Eagles' inaugural season as a full-time member of the BIG EAST Conference.

The 2014 slate features a rematch against the 2013 national champion Duke Blue Devils and five home games, in addition to a full league schedule and a chance to play in the 2014 BIG EAST Championship.

Following exhibition games at High Point (Jan. 25) and Michigan (Feb. 1) as part of the team's annual preseason preparations, MU opens the regular season with non-conference games at Lehigh (Feb. 8), at Hofstra (Feb. 15), and at NCAA tournament quarterfinalist Ohio State (Feb 22).

“It will be a test,” said Amplo. “But I think the guys from last year will certainly have a better understanding of how to travel and handle the challenges that come with that. Looking at the potential for us, we’ve got to win on the road to win a Big East Championship."

The Golden Eagles continue on the road throughout March with games at Marist (March 1) and at Jacksonville (March 8) before finishing up the stretch with a matchup at Duke (March 11) and NCAA tournament qualifier Detroit (March 15).
Marquette's first-ever BIG EAST contest will be the 2014 home opener on Saturday, March 22 when the Golden Eagles will host Villanova. Faceoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. Central time.

“Fans can expect BIG EAST lacrosse to be like our basketball conference where on any given night, or afternoon, any one of these teams can beat the other," said Amplo. "It’s a matter of some new rivalries being formed with us and Denver being put into the mix.”

MU will head to Rutgers on March 29, but will then play four of its next five games in Milwaukee.

After a non-conference home game against Bellarmine on April 1, the Golden Eagles return to league play April 6 when they travel to St. John's. MU then returns home again to face NCAA quarterfinalist Notre Dame on April 8.

“Hopefully we’re peaking in April and into early May,” said Amplo. “We want to be a participant in the BIG EAST championship and playing our best that last weekend of the season. The whole formula while putting this schedule together was how to be best prepared to compete in that month of April against the BIG EAST teams.”

Marquette finishes up the BIG EAST regular season with home contests against Providence (April 12) and Georgetown (April 19). The regular season finale on April 26 will require the Golden Eagles to head out West and battle fellow BIG EAST newcomer Denver, which reached the Final Four a year ago.

The top four teams in the league will earn the opportunity to play in the BIG EAST Championship scheduled for May 1-3 at Villanova.